Aggregation-Induced Emission-Integrated Chemiluminescent Probe for Tumor-specific Detection and Treatment

Near-infrared (NIR) chemiluminescent probes offer significant advantages for cancer imaging due to their high signal-to-noise ratios and deep tissue penetration. However, the integration of chemiluminescence (CL) units and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) components to enhance emission wavelength and combine diagnostics with therapeutics remains underexplored. Here, we present an innovative probe, H-C, formed by conjugating 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)--a natural product with anticancer activity and AIE properties--with a chemiluminescent unit. This design enhances emission through CL resonance energy transfer (CRET) efficiency, red-shifting the emission wavelength via charge transfer (CT) mechanism, and endows the chemiluminescent probe with AIE and chemotherapeutic properties. In vivo experiments demonstrate that the probe H-C not only monitors tumor growth in real-time but also effectively inhibits the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. This all-in-one strategy offers a pathway to achieve precisely targeted diagnosis and treatment of minimal residual disease after initial surgery or chemotherapy.